Sunglasses are much more than frames and lenses. They are all about your personality and how you want to project yourself to the world. The right pair of sunglasses adds to your presence and complements your persona. For those who want to make a subtle style statement, the first name that comes to mind is often — Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses.
But how well do you know your Clubmasters, and what are the basics to donning the perfect pair? Read on to learn more.
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Origin of the Clubmaster style
The “browline” style was introduced in 1947. The brainchild of Jack Rohrbach, the then vice president of the eyeglass company Shuron Ltd., browlines went on to rule the ’50s and ’60s. At the time, they were fully customizable — from size to color of glasses.
Clubmaster sunglasses’ popularity in the media
Tinsel Town and its celebrity inhabitants directly influenced the popularity of browline glasses. After a roaring start in the ’50s and ’60s, the popularity of these Clubmaster-style glasses dipped. Just as the glasses’ sales plummeted in the 1970s, and the craze seemed to all but fade away, Bruce Willis sported tinted browlines in the series “Moonlighting.” Ray-Ban took note and created Clubmaster sunglasses. And just like that, sales of Clubmaster sunglasses took off..
The late 2000s saw the TV series “Mad Men” donning browlines, which brought back the now-retro design once again. “Heroes,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “American Horror Story” added to the classics’ resurgence. These browline frames’ popularity has never again declined as many celebrities continue to sport this all-time classic hit.
Are Clubmasters cool?
Clubmasters have a refined, timeless look. Designs include features like 3-D gold or silver detailing and black temples that signal elegance. They’re suitable for almost any age group, gender or face shape primarily because they’re not an in-your-face style. Curiously, browlines were once deemed “too serious” or “geeky.” They were even categorized as “angry young men’s sunglasses.” This misconception led to a dip in popularity, but before long, the scales tipped in favor of Clubmaster sunglasses.
Defined by a style that’s elegant, yet different, Clubmasters are, quite frankly, a class apart.
The classic appeal of Clubmasters
There are not many sunglasses that appeal to people of all ages across the world. The unique combination of cool and browline classic has led the stylish Clubmaster design to be in a class of their own across the decades, even as fashion changed around them.
The one-of-a-kind browline look has made the Clubmaster style a favorite with both men and women. Easily worn casually or formally, Clubmasters ensure your fashion game is a cut above at parties, dates or get-togethers. The subtle-yet-chic style statement of classic Clubmaster sunglasses is versatile enough for an appearance at a formal party or a date at a discotheque. The confident and cool frames appeal as much to the fashion-conscious as to the casual wearer.
What face types do Clubmasters suit?
Characterized by a thick browline right over the lenses, Clubmasters can be worn by all face types, from triangular to oval to diamond. These versatile glasses are supported by a thin metal frame that will make any person in any outfit look great.
You can ace your fashion game with just a few pointers. Read on and match the best browline for your face shape:
- Triangle face — For this shape, frames that are bolder at the top and taper off to a neutral look at the bottom suit the best.
- Round face — If you have a round or fuller face, choose edges that are angular and taper off that contrast with your frames.
- Heart face — Those with a heart-shaped face should opt for light-shaded and bottom-heavy frames.
- Rectangular face — Choose a dark browline frame to complement your face shape.
- Oval face — If you have an oval shape, anything and everything suits your face! Pick out whichever pair you like.
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Are Clubmasters unisex?
Gender preference in the realm of sun shades is not uncommon. Sunglasses sometimes are gender specific, but some styles are unisex — worn by both men and women. Lucky for you, Clubmasters are a no-brainer. This style is designed for all!
Clubmasters are a universal look, but you can still personally choose many of their features to your liking. Let’s break these cool shades down into three of their design features to understand why they remain many men’s and women’s favorite sunglasses:
- Embellishments — Some shades feature decorative designs along their frames, like wings, dots or stripes. Usually, more ornamental designs are intended for women, whereas more subtle designs are marketed toward men. Unlike many other glasses, Clubmasters feature a refined design — a thin gold, silver, or neutral frame with tinted lenses. The only design language for these glasses is an elegance that’s suitable for anyone.
- Color — Retro-inspired Clubmasters forego the flamboyance of a large palette of colors for simplicity — they are typically available in black, gray, brown, and green hues.
- Size — Ray-Ban Clubmaster frames are available in various sizes, designed to fit nicely on any face. Neither too oversized nor too dainty, these classy frames will compliment faces from the smallest to the largest. Take note that some modern Clubmaster frames do not allow you to customize the size, but most styles of the retro sun shades are available in small, medium and large. Take a look at the exact measurements of Clubmaster sunglasses before you decide which to purchase:
